Duterte to undergo court-ordered health check for trial
Quick Look
- Rodrigo Duterte, facing charges of crimes against humanity, will undergo a court-ordered health check to determine his fitness to stand trial.
- His team cited his deteriorating condition, requesting the examination before any trial can commence.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Rodrigo Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity related to his drug war. The court has ordered a health check to assess his fitness to stand trial.
It is the second time that Duterte, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his drug war that killed thousands of people, will undergo a health check ordered by the court.
“The concept of ‘fitness to stand trial’ must be viewed as an aspect of the broader notion of fair trial which is rooted in the idea that whenever the accused is, for reasons of ill health, unable to meaningfully exercise his or her procedural rights, the trial cannot be fair and criminal proceedings must be adjourned until the obstacles cease to exist,” a chamber of the court said in a decision released on Friday.
Duterte’s team requested the procedure after saying last month that although a medical examination was conducted on the former president during the pre-trial phase, the 81-year-old’s “condition continues to deteriorate and will need more fully to be reviewed before any trial may commence”.
Open Questions
- Will Duterte be deemed fit to stand trial?
- What are the specific health issues affecting Duterte?
